Benjamin shrugged his shoulders and headed toward those who were eagerly waiting for him. Cesare let out a hollow laugh. Taking responsibility for Marian wasn’t Cesare’s choice. Wasn’t Marian too inadequate and disappointing a partner for Cesare?
Cesare’s lips trembled slightly.
A mere maid’s daughter.
If Marian hadn’t possessed that ability, she wouldn’t have even been called a princess. The only reason Cesare overlooked Marian was for one thing alone. It was for his child that would be born from that monster’s womb. At least one child born from the princess’s womb would possess the same ability.
He dreamed of the day that child would succeed Madrian and become the master of Federico.
However, that defective good had no right to interfere with whom Cesare enjoyed himself with. To think someone of such status became a duchess.
‘She should be grateful.’
Crown Prince Benjamin knew this too, which is why he stepped back.
Wasn’t the imperial family barely maintaining itself without Madrian’s support? Cesare whispered in Yulian’s ear.
“I’m not a conservative person, my lady. I believe humans should have freedom. I will never tolerate those who infringe upon my freedom.”
Cesare’s sophistry continued slowly.
“How could I fall behind in this age where free love prevails.”
The soft female body aroused Cesare’s interest. Marian should understand all these deviations and indulgences. After all, Cesare would be the strong rope that would let Marian live as this empire’s duchess.
‘You can’t let go of me anyway.’
But Cesare was no different.
“What do you think, my lady? How about enjoying yourself with me?”
Yulian’s cheeks flushed red. Her toes curled at the man’s hot breath felt on her skin. Her heart area felt ticklish. No matter how precious Princess Marian was, the imperial family couldn’t say anything to Cesare. Didn’t Crown Prince Benjamin also turn a blind eye to this situation now? So there was nothing to fear. Yulian glanced toward where her father was. The Count nodded at Yulian.
Truth be told, she did desire the position of official wife. However, since that worthless Marian wearing the facade of a princess had to occupy that position, being a beloved mistress and mother of the future duke wouldn’t be too bad, would it?
The era of the imperial family was setting. Soon, the era of House Madrian would rise. Yulian leaned her head against Cesare’s chest.
“I have been admiring Your Grace for a long time.”
Yulian whispered. An attitude completely different from the always stiff and cold Marian. Cesare pleasantly curved his lips upward.
“Even serving you like this would be an honor.”
Cesare led Yulian outside the banquet hall. The ducal estate had dozens of rooms prepared for secret enjoyment. After Cesare and Yulian completely disappeared, people opened their mouths that had been sealed.
“As expected. Does this mean Madrian doesn’t need to be mindful of anyone?”
“Actually, rather than the princess who’s raised on the streets, the legitimate Duke of Madrian……”
“It is a shame. Duke Madrian could have found a better marriage partner……”
“If it weren’t for the ability the princess has…… No, how could an illegitimate child raised on the streets deserve to be a princess and duchess?”
“Shh! The Crown Prince might hear!”
No one condemned Cesare. After all, Cesare was a person at the core of Federico Empire’s power. The arms of the nobles bent toward power, not justice.
**
She would need to dangle a carrot that would tempt Cesare to agree to this matter.
Today, Cesare would be holding a banquet celebrating his becoming duke.
‘And this is where he said he met Lady Yulian.’
Since Yulian said it herself, it must be accurate.
‘I have served His Grace since the evening banquet on the day he became duke, Your Highness. So actually, I was first. First in bed, first with child. So I am the true duchess.’
Marian let out a bitter laugh. She had brazenly come in carrying illegitimate children—evidence of infidelity—and demanded the household budget of the ducal estate’s mistress. She claimed it wasn’t a small sum needed to raise the duke’s bloodline. Yulian must have been able to act so presumptuously because of Cesare’s tacit approval and support.
Cesare had liked ‘women’ since then.
It wasn’t just Yulian. There were many other women.
There were tavern workers, widows, sometimes married women, and at times daughters of provincial nobles.
Numerous women passed through Cesare’s life, and dealing with them was Marian’s responsibility. That is, until Marian was pushed to the battlefield in place of Cesare who died at age twenty-six.
In any case, all the women Cesare met were…….
White, voluptuous, and soft.
“So different from me.”
Marian scratched her cheek.
White, voluptuous, and soft…… Marian snapped her fingers. Since she had never used magic this way before, some trial and error was needed.
And finally, she found the right appearance.
According to Cesare’s taste.
Her black hair turned to noble silver, her transparent blue eyes to deep green. She looked like a noble lady from some family. Though her clothes were modest, her beauty couldn’t be hidden.
Perfect for Cesare’s taste.
‘This should do.’
Marian sighed. Getting out of here would be easy. Cesare would work at the Ministry of Justice as Duke Madrian. Someone like Cesare at the Ministry of Justice…
He was also promised the position of future minister.
‘Like a pot calling the kettle black.’
Marian smirked. Only after organizing all the plans in her head could Marian finally fall into late sleep.
‘Wait, Abel. I’m coming.’
She couldn’t save him before, but this time she would rescue Abel.
**
Late at night, faint moans echoed through Marian’s bedroom.
Marian was in a very dark abyss.
It was suffocating heat. Her nose, throat, and lungs. It felt as if her entire respiratory system was filled with black ash, steam, and heat. A small girl who looked younger than her age due to her small frame was panting. All her clothes were tattered and she wore shoes with holes in the toes.
The child slowly turned around with her skinny body.
“Wh-where did everyone go……”
The child mumbled.
Tears that covered her small face gathered at her chin.
The child’s eyes were filled with fear. The child screamed.
“N-no!! I didn’t do it! I didn’t do it……”
The child burst into sobs, hic, hic. Her heart was pounding. It felt like every cell in her body was writhing alive. From fingertips to toes, it stung as if being pricked by needles.
The child roughly rubbed her face with her hands.
The child ran with her short legs. But no sign of life could be felt anywhere. The bright red flames that covered the village swallowed everything without leaving any trace.
“Thomas…… Laura!”
The child who got up even after falling ran and ran across the devastated black ground.
The child was the poorest, youngest, and weakest child in this village. Among the children who survived the harsh winter last year, that is.
She would often get beaten up by street children and have her food stolen. Thomas especially bullied her severely, making her sometimes wish he would just disappear. But she had never imagined actually being left alone.
‘How did this happen?’
Today was no different from any other day.
Thomas stole the moldy bread from the nameless child. He knocked her down and rolled her in the mud. He pointed fingers while watching the child cry. Thomas shouted with a snicker.
‘You stupid girl without a name! You’re useless! Who gave you that food? Was it that soft-hearted Laura? If Laura shares food with you again, next time I won’t give Laura anything! You should starve to death. Like Bales who disappeared last year.’
Thomas’s words made her angry. Her heart fluttered wildly at the thought that he would bully Laura next after her. She wanted to teach Thomas a lesson.
‘Don’t say that! Laura is a good person! You’re the bad one, Thomas!’
She couldn’t remember anything after that. She just felt hot, and her heart beat frighteningly strong and fast.
When she opened her eyes, it was a sea of fire.
“Thomas! Where are you! Lauraaaa! Answer me!! I won’t think bad thoughts anymore! I’m sorry!”
Thud!
The child turned her head in surprise. Knights riding huge black horses were entering the village. Through the gradually dying flames, a skeletal child became visible.
The knight at the front removed his helmet and dismounted.
He was a knight with a fierce look and a scar on his face. He was also huge, appearing like a monster to young Marian’s eyes.
The knight approached the child who stood frozen and trembling. The knight knelt before her. His solid armor looked particularly sharp.
Marian stepped backward. The knight grabbed her with rough hands. Gripping her small hand that seemed about to break, the knight called out to Marian with a voice mixed with a sigh.
“Your Highness Princess Marian.”
“M-me?”
The child shook her head in fear.
“I don’t have, don’t have a name……”
The already intimidated child’s frame became even smaller. The knight spoke coldly.
“The fire in this village hasn’t gone out for a month, Your Highness. The imperial family has confirmed this explosion and fire, and also confirmed Your Highness’s survival. The imperial family is not wrong.”
“N-no……”
The child shook her head.
“This is not something you can refuse, Your Highness Marian. His Majesty the Emperor is waiting now.”
The knights dismounted and surrounded the child. The child parted her small lips.
“It wasn’t me.”
The child sniffled. The black knight coldly stated.
“No, this is what Your Highness did. You, Princess Marian.”
The knight’s words pierced her ears sharply. Marian’s body floated up. At that moment, she heard a familiar voice.
[Do not forget!]
Marian jerked her head up. Everything turned black and white. Even the threatening knight who had been intimidating Marian was frozen. Stars began to swim in the black sky above the frozen scene. The sky poured down toward Marian.
[Do not turn away from your sin! You must save more lives than those you killed.]
Marian’s body grew. She became an adult, just like when she first stood before God. No, she became a murderer. Marian rubbed her face with her palm. Why was she here again……? Had she failed this time too? Marian’s skinny hands trembled violently.
“……It wasn’t, wasn’t what I wanted……”
She couldn’t even finish her words properly. Deep guilt surged in her chest. It was the crystallization of all the pain and wounds that had overshadowed her. The memories of that day that had been sleeping in Marian’s deepest parts.
The village that burned for a month, Marian who survived alone, and the day the imperial family who had forgotten about Marian until then found her.
“It really wasn’t……”
Marian dropped tears profusely.
[Do you want to pay for your sins? Do you want to save them?]
Marian nodded. The voice let out a laugh. It mockingly ridiculed Marian.
[Time that has already passed cannot be reversed! Do not forget. Remember. Your sin! Your murder!]
Marian screamed.
[The deaths of the innocent!!]
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TimeWhisperer
Wow, that’s too much. Even if you blame her for her actions during the war, torturing her over her mistakes as a child is just too much. Those gods be looking mad petty right now.